Daufuskie Island has not been tested by a dangerous storm for a while, but its limited ferry service could be a critical weakness come future hurricanes.
“During the Atlantic Tropical Storm season, Daufuskie is one of the most vulnerable locations on the Atlantic coast,” wrote Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner in a letter of support for a $325,000 federal grant application for a feasibility study of a new ferry system.
Tanner’s department provides law enforcement and emergency management to the eight-square-mile island, which is situated north of Tybee Island.
“The current ferry service arrangement has never been fully satisfactory when considering the emergency evacuation of the residents of Daufuskie,” Tanner wrote.
Rep. Weston Newton, R-Bluffton, also pointed to safety in his letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
“During times of hurricane evacuation, I shudder to think of the lives at risk on Daufuskie Island if we don’t take measured steps now to address this very real and pressing need.”
There have been no island evacuations at all for at least 10 years, said Beaufort County’s Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Col Neil Baxley. He said the last evacuation was prompted by Hurricane Floyd in 1999. He said evacuations from the island are handled “the same way they’re handled everywhere else.”
After notifications are issued, people take the ferry service contracted with the county to Hilton Head Island, and they disperse from there either by personal vehicles or transit authority buses prearranged for the evacuation.
Three ferry or water taxi services currently serve the island. The Home Owners Association at Haig Point offers a private ferry service for its residents, guests and employees and has a contractual agreement with the Beaufort County School District to transport students during the school year.
It also has an agreement with Beaufort County for all emergency transports and the daily transport of personnel for Emergency Medical Services and Daufuskie Island Fire District.
The J&W Corporation provides passenger ferry service between Freeport Landing on Daufuskie and Broad Creek Marina on Hilton Head.
“There is a need to provide a safe, reliable ferry system which addresses the needs of residents and visitors in the region,” argues Beaufort County’s grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which was submitted last month.
“If left unimproved, the current facilities will fall into disrepair, be subjected to funding constraints, and not be available to meet emergency and evacuation situations.”
The island is home to about 400 full-time residents and welcomes 50,000-200,000 visitors each year.